5 Reasons Why It's Important to Wait In-Between Tattoos

By
Jodie Michalak
Jodie Michalak
Jodie Michalak
Jodie Michalak is a cosmetologist and contributing writer for Byrdie where she covers the tattoo space.
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Krista Carter
Krista Carter
Krista Carter
Krista Carter has worked in beauty and fashion for nearly a decade. Previously, she was global lead producer at Estée Lauder Companies. She has been writing and editing for Byrdie since 2019.
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Updated on 04/17/24 02:14PM
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Lucy Chen, MD
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Reviewed by Lucy Chen, MD

Lucy Chen, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, FL. She specializes in Mohs surgery and cutaneous oncology.

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close up of woman's arm with sticker sleeve tattoos

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Anyone who has seen a friend get their first tattoo and then return for a few more just a month later knows that the feeling of getting new tattoos can be addictive. But whether you're working on a full-body project or you're just excited to nail down that next design and placement, you may be wondering when it's safe to get your next tattoo. While your mind might be ready to go under the needle, it's an unfortunate fact your body might not be. So, how soon is too soon for your next tattoo, and what factors do you need to consider? We turned to tattoo artist Dillon Forte and dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, for the answers ahead.

Meet the Expert

  • Dillon Forte is a tattoo artist in Wimberley, Texas. He is also the founding artist of Co:Create Ink.
  • Morgan Rabach, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical PLLC in NYC.

How Long Should You Wait Between Tattoos?

Experts advise waiting at least two to four weeks after getting one tattoo before getting another. "This allows the skin to fully heal, and then you can evaluate how your body reacted to the ink," Rabach explains.

"If they’re single session pieces, you could theoretically get them continuously," Forte tells us. "However, the more things your body has to heal at the same time, the longer it may take them to heal," he adds.

Why Wait Time Between Tattoos Is Important

Staggering your tattoos is wise for several reasons, perhaps the most obvious of which is allowing your tattoo to heal properly and ensuring that your body does not experience any adverse reactions. Still, there's additional logic behind buffering time between tattoo appointments, laid out ahead:

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Bad Choices

The endorphin rush of a new tattoo can be amazing, but remember that tattoos are intended to be a lifelong commitment. Tattoo removal is always an option, but it hurts and can get pretty expensive. If you don't take the time to think about what you're getting, you might need to go in for a coverup, which can get pretty pricey, too.

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Risk of Infection

After a tattoo, your body fights hard to heal and fight any infection from your open (tattoo) wound. So, while your body art may look awesome on the outside, your inner body is probably craving a little time to rest, recoup, and repair your damaged skin.

"Getting too many tattoos too quickly may even put extra strain on the immune system," says Forte. "Typically, it’s recommended to let each piece fully heal in between sessions."

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Budget Concerns

Even if your tattoo is healing beautifully, you'll still need to fund your next tattoo design. Unless you have expendable cash for body art or professional connections within the industry, you'll probably have to work the cost of your next tattoo into your budget. You don't want to get a DIY stick-and-poke tattoo in someone's apartment—it'll put you at risk of infection and bad body art.

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Adverse Reactions

"It’s possible to have an allergic reaction to the ink (especially red), and it’s also possible to get granuloma formation (immune-mediated bumps to the ink) and keloid scarring in response to the ink," Rabach tells us. "If you have a reaction to one tattoo, it’s better to know what it is before you get more," she says.

Byrdie Tip

Whatever you do and however long you wait, be sure you follow your artist's tattoo aftercare instructions thoroughly to ensure your skin stays healthy. After all, you want to be proud to show off your new ink.

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Artist Availability

If you're set on one particular tattoo artist, you'll need to be at the mercy of their tattooing schedule. This means no matter how much you want to get that new design, you'll quickly learn that patience is a virtue. Some artists are booked out weeks ahead, while others won't accept new clients for several years. Also, some artists are only guests at the parlor they're using, meaning their time is incredibly limited.

Anything worth having is worth waiting for, so use this time to ensure the following:

  • Your body is healthy and strong.
  • You have the cash to pay for both your tattoo and a tip.
  • You've selected body art that you love and will stand the test of time.
  • You've limited your contact with people who are prone to spreading viruses and germs.
Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. Rahimi IA, Eberhard I, Kasten E. Tattoos: what do people really know about the medical risks of body ink? J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(3):30-35.

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